Method of packing comminuted meats



'Nov. 23; 1943.

I. N. JORDAN METHOD OF PACKING COMMINUTED MEATS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1941 jZ/Zveuwi Nov. 23, 1943. L JORDAN METHOD OF PACKINQ COMMINUTED MEATS Filed April 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iii/67:60:": Isaacdi. Jrd'arz 4?? Can/( 001;;

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 METHOD or PACKING cornunvurnn MEATS lsaac N. Jordan, Chicago, BL, assignor to Armour and Company, Chicago, Til, acorporation of Illinois Application April 3, 1941, Serial No. 386,592 3 Claims (o1.'- 226 101 This invention relates to a method of packing comminuted meats, such as chopped meats,

ground meats, etc.

- are provided legs or pedestals 9 with a lower In the packing of comminuted meats in cans,

a great deal of difliculty has been encountered use to the meat being compacted more in one lportion of the can than in another and to the failure of said product to pack evenly when subiected to pressure under packing methods now employed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby the meat is distributed throughout the length of the can under a substantially uniform pressure so that an even distrlbution of the 1 meat occurs throughout thev filled container. Another object is to provide means whereby comminuted meat may be preshaped to fit a container of-a predetermined shape and packed therein under steps which result in the uniform distribution'of the shaped meat -within the can. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification procoeds.

The method may be practiced with apparatus which is set forth for the purpose of illustration. In the illustration given, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus suitable for use with my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1: Fig: 3, a transverse sectional view, the

section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4, a broken plan detail view of valve structure which may be employed with the apparatus. I I

The method comprises broadly the steps of forming the comminuted meat-a term which I use to include chopped meat, ground meat, etc.- into a shape substantially conforming to the. interior of a container by means -of compression and then without relieving the compression,

, moving the shaped material into one of the cans, the pressure exerted by the incoming meat within the can being resisted bypressureexerted against the bottom or exterior of the can. It

will be understood that a great variety of' ap-' paratus suitable for carrying out the process might be employed. The apparatus illustrated is set forth merely by way of example and for indicating one means by which the method can be effectively practiced.

In the illustration given, A designates a frame;

B, a stufling hopper; and C, a can carriage device.

The frame structure A may be of any suitable form or type. In the illustration given, there bed structure l l and an upper bed or table structure !2. The bed structure ll carries the pulley brace l3 and the valve road supporting structure H5. The upper bed or table carries a pulley "strap 5. The bed 12 also carries the air cylin- 'der supporting brackets l5 and the carriage supporting bracket .!6. r

The hopper structure B rests directly upon the table or bed '2. It provides a stufiing chamber- Ifi of the shape illustrated more clearly in Figure 2. The bottom wall I? of the chamber isgenerally V-shaped providing approximately one-half of a rectangular channel. The upper half of the rectangular channel is provided by the inverted V-shaped bottom or face I?! of the press i9; One wall 28 of the bottom of the chamber is extended laterally and the continuation thereof'forms an open port 2| through which the'meat or other products may be introduced. The casing provides end walls and side walls. The side wall 22, however, is interrupted so as to provide communication between the port 21 and'the interior of chamber IS. The chamber 58 is provided with an outlet nozzle or guide 23 which extends rearwardly of the hopper and is adapted to snugly receive a rectangular can 24. When the press 19 is in lowered position, it forms a channel which is evenly aligned with the outlet guide 23. A plunger head 24- carried by compressed air operated rod 25 fits evenly within the channel provided by the bottom 1! of the chamber andthe press head l9 and when forced forwardly causes the meat to be discharged through the channel and through the outlet guide 23. The plunger rod 25 is guided withina block 28 secured to the hopper casing.

' For reciprocating the press 19, a cylinder 21 is supported upon the hopper casing B and is provided with a piston 28. A piston rod 29 is fixed to the piston 28 and to the press IS. A spring 30 normally urges the piston 28 toward its upper position. Compressed air is fed through line 31 into the top of the cylinder 21 V to move the piston 28 downwardly.

For actuating the plunger rod'25, a compressed air cylinder 32 is illustrated, supported upon brackets I 5 and provided with an air pipe 33 BEST AVAILABLE COPY arms 36 and pressure end member 37. Secured nel in the bottom of the hopper through the to the carriage is a depending plate 38 to which guide 23 and into the container 24. The yieldsecured a cable 38. The cable extends under ing pressure carriage C maintains a uniform pulley carried by the bracket !3 and over the pressure against the advancing meat body so as pulley El suspended by bracket H3 and is proto insure the even filling of the container, as vi ed with a heavy weight 42 which urges the the container moves away from the hopper B, carriage C toward the carrguidei3...v A com- .ti1us. lifting.the weight .42. When the pedal is pressed. air ycylindez 43 is supported ebelowtthe .ieieasedgivalvfi is opened to allow compressed hopper B and is provided with a piston secured air to flow into the cylinder 53 to force the to a rod 44, the forward end of the rod being. 0, plunger 64' forwardly to the position shown in fixed to plate 3%. Compressed air is introduced Figure 1. By this movement, the carriage C is into the rear of the cylindetl lifthmughiilinflfi. aadvancedato 'iree the container it completely For controlling the operation of the entire from the guide 23. In this position, the filled mechanism in the proper sequence, I have pro- A can 24. may. be readily removed. In each of \dded valve structure whichsistcontrolled bvai thenforegoingoperations which have been desingle treadle. The treadle 46 is pivotally seand where a power cylinder is employed,

cured upon a bracket 4'! and when depressed ti valves release the air from the side of the lowers a vertical link 4S.' 1 he-linlr =at its top cylinder-toward-which movement is to be made. is pivotally connected to a short link.-,4 9 having Eorxexample, when the piston stroke in cylinder one end pivotally connected to the frame A. 32 is toward the hopper B, air is released through -Securedts the verticall link 48-is a'rigidarm' 53 I:.line':34 and-valve :53am! vice-verse; when the suppol ti-ng an anglewironiplate 5L f-Io plate 5| st-ructu-re is-in-the opposite direction; air-isreigecuredwzfou v v 1 u-rod-i52;:n53, 54' and: 55. leased through line 33 and valve fill -In' the Br gg-Q4352;jsripivotally;-5ecured;,t0 .-va1v :1ever sninitial:downward'movement of the treadle, air is arm' ii which retates thecore-of a-valve'afi 5- eleasedthrough rline :and va1v 53 to'permit -Si1nilarlynthe-rodwil is conneeted to thewalve "t the earriagetxtozbe drawn-toward-hopper B. *lever 53 controlling-walve i53 -'Similarly, the I 'Ilhisais foilawed by the-operation of 54: in revalve rod 54 is connected to=the=valvelever :eieasing air'rthrough-. line 3. "On' the-upward -oontrolling valve 54% And likewisexthewrod 55 ":rrrnevement ofuthe i'pedal',:valve' 55 releases the -is-connectedto.i-the valve.-levefilSSH-controlling 39 air pressure from the top of cylinder lfl perthe-valvefil'a bGompressediiair enters thenvalve rzmitting the piston, under; the forceof the spring,

-througinthe' inlet-66. Leadingfrom the :valves icwshe-lreturnednto zitszupperv position, Also, air '.v9 .-re'.-fl1e\ggmpms5ed tairsrli esz -3l, 33, .'34..-and- 45. Hit-T653566. through pipe '33 and valve 5 3", While '1, hu f ti -w i i l hprovided witha port :iiatzthe same time, :air is admitted through valve thpgugh, hi hzzth :compress'edz-airmmay: be asi fifiii into'line 34rto1effect. a retraction oflplunger vented to the atmosphere from one side oft-the -:crod:25. p istonwhertit isudesiredlto move .the: piston i In thessequenceiof operations described, it will -.-$gv, ql .ldl-$hat,lside nEachmfithevalve-'leverv arms orbernotect that a measured quantit of meat is infit 3 ='54* andrfifi? is providedzwith a;:spring ::trocluced; intcrthe ihopper, thecan is fitted upon --'-'51,'--the-upperiend of-which is secured to abracketf lltathe guide r23mnderith iinfiuence. of weight 52, 63 cal'riedizbyi'the'.hOpper';'Oa,Si-ng r-nairrbeingereleased from cylinder: 4$.thr'cugh line .-l49iZaDd.';K821V6=;53 The pressure head 13 then 'opem'twn descends to form the rectangular channel with him-theroperationhot:thamethodrinythe device -1;hel;bottom-of=hopper ll. The plunger 25 then illustrated;:aniempty-i-can iuxisinlacedpupon'the uaduances :to.-;press thermeat within-the channel .=carriage;G-. with the'npenrmld ofethew n -sfaci g 1 .imwvardly through: guide-fiend into container tliewguideefll :rUporrzthezfirstzmovcment- .of 43118 3:24,=thezcarriage' C.yielding while at the sarne time iread c -fiownwandiy; finmpressed airs is released :exerting-pressurevagainst: I the incoming product HITQB'XZfiihG-CYliIld! i45ithrnughzthewalve port in which isnfirlling the container 24. The forward mralve 53 landi nnderithe, infiuence--of ;the\ Weig t wustroke .otzthescylinder'rod M. then releases the a:42:the:carriagenrmves:toward the-hoppenBand 1 filledrcontainenz'lhfromengagement with the l thanan a-M is-receivedr'upomlthe glider--23. A 2 guide'f23 solthatlit'ma :be-removed. *Jpo .-remmeasured amount-:01 the imp ied; corn-:beef 0 .vleasez of thertreadle thepress 13. is-z-raised and (.h r rmfiaflvol epi'oductsrz-hasomemrintroduced the plunger 25 is retracted, the various parts-beznongrr thenoperzlnort 2lrzmdi nidedaintozthe; inglnow'inrposition.ior-themext'cycle oI.'op- .iaewhopper hbflulfiml'il 7. i"lIhe'..contiznued:-;flownward v t ions fonfilling a new-container. azmxrvmnentipfirthertreaeleszfii-mauees valvegSS to .allmthe HBWPHIGt'hOd; it-will :be noted that the s adminairrthrough-dinerfil :toddlel'topm icy-find gcomminuted meat-is. first'shaped byslateral-con EistomfiB themmoves ldownvzardlyiand the ressiom;causing-:thevmasstoessume'the'shap: press-reads! 8 descendsr.clnsingmfi;-communi e fiognOfafihGciDtfil'iOl,OfJthe- CBJ'I or:c0ntainer intorwhich tic-n witntha onennort iillrand-jonming achanitsisftoebelpacked and=thenwbyrmeans (Jr-longituanal witlr-iheo outtomrofthaa hfipperi l'l. :lhis 'z dmalupressure theshaped-masswhile'still main- :lChSllDGl'lSIjbbBfShflJSfi c-f rthegzcentainerr or..-can tetainedrgmder the lateralwompression isxmoved r: Mannict :mlnnger: headfifl @andqit (provides a longitudinaily into the container. Thecontainer (ontinuousvcbarmelr@ommnnicating: evenly: and (SJIiSsBQit'hEIH'hBIdlooselyrnor rig-idly-,=;-but yields unszWi'thOUt; breakrmritlmthe gnide;&23;;so;=that the \dera. uniform pressure so-that a uniform'filling 111E831}BIKZRJIGHIQKEQHIKX! by m ans: ofthe press of the-container,- inch by inch,-is insured.

- l9;.-to-. a; productr-ofzatheedesired shape-emery. be the,-,specification and :claims, I -have used rplessed *LYEIIIYC into-var container-;,0f-.thesame HthGsWOId comminuted in itsbroaisenseas inx-SEIBDB. zflen-tinuedidownwardfmoa'ement.ofrt e; 7o eluding not only ground-meat -but also chopped 1 treadlennext-.=causesovalve '52 to admiti-scommeatand-similar products.

pressed air throughiinefii);into-pylinden32-and }While I haveeset torthspecific steps-in certain tthe:z;pistenigtlrereingforcesathe plunger rod 25 sequences and specific mechanism suitable for towardathe Wmlflpthus causing;;the-,p1unger ,c ar .rying,-0ut .thelinvention; it-will'be understood rah-earr-lfie ztonadvanceathe meat-withinthe chan ethatsconsiderable variation; may --be made in all of them by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A method for packing a comminuted meat product and the like into a container, comprising compressing the product by lateral pressure into a shape conforming in cross section to the interior of the container, maintaining the shaped product under compression and against lateral movement, exerting pressure against one end of the shaped product to cause the same to move in a longitudinal direction through a discharge channel of substantially the same cross section as the shaped product and into a container slidably and telescopically received about the discharge channel with the closed end of the container at the end of the channel, exerting yielding pressure against the end of the container in a direction opposing movement of the product, continuing to exert pressure on the end of the product to cause the same to fill the container and simultaneously move the container in the direction or movement of the product against said yielding pressure, and when said container is substantially filled withdrawing the filled container from the discharge channel against said yielding pressure.

2. A method for packing a comminuted meat product and the like into a can of polygonal cross section, comprising compressing the product by lateral pressure into a polygonal shape conforming in cross section to the interior of the can, maintaining the shaped product under compression and against lateral movement, exerting pressure against one end of the shaped product to cause the same to move in a longitudinal direction through a discharge tube or substantially the same polygonal cross section as the shaped product and into said can slidably and telescopically received about the discharge tube with the closed-end of the can at the end of the tube, the sides of the can being in alignment with the sides of the discharge tube, exerting yielding pressure against the end of the can opposing the longitudinal movement of the product, continuing to exert pressure on the end of the product to cause the same to fill the can and simultaneously move the can longitudinally in the direction of movement of the product against said yielding pressure, and when the can is substantially filled withdrawing the can from the discharge tube against the urging of said yielding pressure.

'3. A method for packing a comminuted meat product and the like into a container, comprising compressing the product by lateral pressure into a body of a shape conforming in cross section to the interior of the container, thereafter while maintaining the product under compression and against lateral movement exerting pressure against one end of the body of the shaped product to cause the same to move in a longitudinal direction through a discharge tube of substantially the same cross section as the shaped product and into a container of the same cross section as the discharge tube, the container being of slightly greater cross section dimensions and slidably and telescopically received about the discharge tube with the closed end of the container at the end of the tube, exerting yielding pressure against the end of the container opposing the longitudinal movement of the product, continuing to exert pressure on the end of the product to cause the same to fill the container and simultaneously move the container longitudinally in the direction of movement of the product against said yielding pressure, and thereafter withdrawing the filled container from the discharge tube and against said yielding pressure.

ISAAC N. JORDAN. 

